Method and apparatus for pumping



April 19, 1960 H. A. TOULMIN, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUMPING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1956 Lanai-nu INVENTOR. HARRY A. TOULMIN JR.

ATTORNEYS April 1960 H. A. TOULMIN, JR 2,933,051

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUMPING Filed April 25. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR \v/za'x ATTORNEYS HARRY A. TOULMIN JR.v

United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUMPING Harry A. Tonlmin, Jr., Dayton, Ghio, assignor to The Commonwealth Engineering Company of Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of @hio Application April 25, 1956, Serial No. 580,602

6 Claims. (Cl. 103-262) This invention relates to a method of pumping fluids and to an apparatus embodying the principles on which the pumping method is predicated.

In the art of pumping fluids, particularly liquids, and, more particularly still, water, it is customary either to move the entire body of fluid being pumped by a suitable impeller means, such as a rotary or reciprocatory pumping member, or to induce fluid flow in a larger stream of liquid through an energy transmission from a smaller stream of liquid introduced therein.

This latter pumping principle occurs in the case of a jet pump where a high speed or jet of fluid is directed into the throat of a venturi thereby establishing reduced pressure conditions which cause the flow of fluid from about the jet into the throat of the venturi, whence this flow continues on through the entire unit through which the fluid is to be pumped.

The present invention deals with a pumping principle in which less than the whole body of fluid being pumped is handled by the pump proper, but wherein there is no continuous acting jet and no venturi throat.

The present invention does not preclude the use of a venturi throat where it may prove desirable because of the nature of the fluid being pumped or the particular pumping conditions encountered, but discloses a new pumping principle which will operate in the absence of such a venturi in most cases.

The present invention has, as a primary advantage, the elimination of rotating members such as pump impellers which are replaced instead by reciprocating members that may comprise diaphragms or plungers.

The present invention embodies a compact unit of a small enough size that it can be dropped into a small well casing, such as is found in most domestic installations.

The present invention thus has, as a primary objective,

the provision of a new pumping principle particularly adapted for domestic and farm installation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an extremely compact pumping arrangement adapted for use in substantially any location where fluid is to be pumped, and is particularly adapted for domestic and farm use.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an extremely compact pumping unit which can be placed in the drop pipe of a well or the like and which can be withdrawn therefrom at any time for service or replacement.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an extremely compact pumping arrangement which eliminates motors and the like so that substantially the entire unit may be corrosion-resistant, and thus have long life under any circumstances.

The foregoing objects and advantages, as well as other objects and advantages, will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a pumping installation according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the pumping unit proper in section and showing connected therewith an electrical power system, by means of which the pumping unit is actuated;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing a pump according to the present invention attached to the end of a flexible pipe or hose and having floats attached to the pipe so that it can be dropped in a stream or body of liquid and will float on about the surface thereof whereby pumping action will be had; a

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a modifie arrangement of a vibrator-type pump according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the pumping unit arranged for being dropped into a well casing;

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing one form of a plunger-type pump with a delayed action return of the plunger in one direction; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of the Figure 6 construction.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail,

Figure 1 shows a well casing 10 in which there extends Referring now to Figure 2, the pumping unit 16 will; be seen to comprise a flanged length of pipe or the like,

and this length of pipe is provided with channel means 22 having a port or inlet 24 at the lower end and a discharge jet or nozzle 26 at the upper end. An upwardly opening check valve 28 is located adjacent the inlet 24 and outwardly opening check valve 30 is located adjacent the outlet 26.

One wall of channel 22 is movable and to this end comprises a rubberlike diaphragm member 32 which preferably consists of a highly corrosion-resistant plastic or synthetic rubber material such as Teflon. The diaphragm is connected with an armature 34 which is springurged in one direction by a spring 36 and is drawn in another direction by energization of a solenoid 38.

Solenoid 38 is supplied by the cable 18 which, at its upper.

end, has one end connected with one terminal of secondary 40 of the transformer, and its other end connected with the output terminal of transistor 42 which has its input terminal connected with the other side of secondary 40, and which has a control element connected to the biasing resistor 44 via the grid network 46.

Resistor 44 is adjustable and in this manner the frequency of energization of solenoid 38 can be controlled thereby to control the frequency of pulsation of the water in the chamber 522 as brought about by the flexing of diaphragm 32. This is important since the present invention depends in part upon tuning of the entire pumping system in order to deliver pulses of energy into the main stream of fluid within the drop pipe which can be directed upwardly thereby causing an upward flow of fluid Within the main pipe.

The primary of the aforementioned transformer, as at '48, is connected across the lines L1 and L2 via switch 3, whereby it can be dropped into a stream or sump 54 as in Figure 3 and connected with a discharge pipe or hose 56 for the purpose of draining areas or for irriga tion purposes or the like where difiiculty is now experienced in installing suitable pumping mechanisms.

The present invention also contemplates the provision Patented Apr. 19, 1960 g of a pumping unit according to the present invention as an entirely independent element adapted for being located within the main flow pipe. Such an arrangement is1illustratedin Figure 4, wherein the pumping unit cornprises the tube or pipe 60 having .an inlet check 62 and an inlet streanr 64, and having an outlet check .66 and an outlet nozzle or jet 68. Between thechecks is diaphragm 70 which has associated therewith, .as by being molded therein, the armature element '72. Armature element 72 is adapted for being moved in a vibratory manner and incapsulated solenoid 74 shall have a body of hard resin 76 cast thereabout. Such resin may, for example, be epoxy resin. Such a resin is sufficiently hard .so that threads may be formed thereon, as at 78, so that the incapsulated coil itself may be threaded directly into the pipe or tube 60 and serve to clamp diaphragm 70 in position. An electric cable 80 leads into the incapsulated coil to supply. electrical energy thereto, whereby the coil maybe energized, the diaphragm vibrated, and the jfluid' pumped upwardly-through the pumping unit.

Figure illustrates how a pumping unit according to this invention may be connected with the cable 82 and dropped into a drop pipe 84 so as to be immersed in the liquid 86 therein. In the Figure 5 arrangement energization of the incapsulated coil will cause vertical flow of the fluid through the pipe 84. Due to the construction of the pumping unit it hangs vertically downwardly from the cable 82, and thus can be lowered into pipe fi'without catching on the cables therein.

,Figure 6 shows a plunger pump of a type wherein a plunger 90 is biased outwardly by a spring 92 and is adapted for being driven inwardly by an annature94 when the latter is attracted by incapsulated solenoid 96. According to the Figure 6 arrangement the rightward movement of plunger 90, which would be its suction stroke, is at a reduced rate on account of the check valve 98 which inhibits the discharge of fluid from the right side of armature 94. In this manner the plunger 90 may be driven extremely rapidly leftwardly in order to create the high energy pump in the fluid that will drive a slug thereof upwardly into the main column of fluid to be moved, whereas rightward movement of' plunger 90 is at. a sufliciently reduced rate that no cavitation will occur in the fluid being pumped.

The Figure 7 arrangement is substantially the same as Figure 6 except an inversion is illustrated wherein a spring drives the pump plunger in a pumping direction, while an incapsulated coil 102 acts on armature 104 to move the plunger in its direction while the flow of fiuid to and from chamber 106 is controlled by a check valve 108 so that. the movement of plunger 108 is at reduced rate, whereas movement thereof in its pumping direction can be at high speed.

The Figure 7 arrangement also shows how an armature' 104 can be embodied in or mounted on a diaphragm 110 thereby to simplify the stroke.

Since the operation of the pumping device is of a pulsating nature, the tendency for the main body of fluid is to pulsate or to move in a sort of wave motion. The present'invention contemplates synchronizing the operation of the pumping device so that the main column of fluid does not pulsate to and fro, but moves generally in the same direction at all times. The larger mass of fluid within the .main pipe will have a damping efiect on the pulsations of energy issuing from the pumping unit, thereby to promote a general uniform of movement of .the fluid-through the main pipe.

The present invention contemplates operation of the pumping unit at relatively high frequencies, although it will-be understood that the exact frequency will depend on the'size of the pumping unit being operated with .larger pumping at lower frequencies than a small unit.

The small unit is suitably arranged with a dash pot effect'to cause retraction of the pumping plunger and might operate in a frequency range, calculated onthe rate of travel of the pumping member in its pumping direction, and into the sonic range and even into the ultrasonic range. V

The limiting frequency, it will be understood, will be determined by the frequency at which the cavitation sets in the pump, which is to say at that point at which the suction created by the pumping element is too great for the fluid flow to follow the pumping element, whereby a void is created, or that point at which entrained gases begin to separate from the fluid, or that point at which the fluid being pumped vaporizes, which might occur in a volatile liquid such as gasoline.

The frequency of operation of the pumping unit will, at least in many cases, also be determined by the natural frequency of the sytem, of which the pumping unit forms a part, and for this reason it willbe understood that it is contemplated to vary the frequency supplied to the vibrator unit so that it can be tuned or brought into resonance with any system, whereby the greatest and most efiicient transfer of energy from the electrical supply system into the main body of fluid being pumped will be accomplished.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and accordingly it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. In a pumping arrangement; a pipe of uniform cross section from end to end and having a port adjacent one end, a nozzle projecting into said pipe adjacent the other end thereof and directed away from said-one end of said pipe, means forming a channel extending along the outside ofthe pipe, said channel communicating at one end with said port and at the other end with said nozzle, check valve means in said channel for permitting fluid flow therethrough from the port to the nozzle only, and a vibrator pumpin the said channel for causing pulsating flow of fluid from the said port through the channel and out the said nozzle thereby to induce flow of fluid through said pipe.

2. A pumping arrangement according to claim 1 in which the said vibrator pump comprises a diaphragm set in the wall of the channel, and means operatively connected to said diaphragm for vibrating the same;

3. A pumping arrangement according to claim 1 in which the. said vibrator pump comprises a diaphragm set .in one wall of the channel, and means for vibrating said diaphragm, said means comprising an armature connected tothe diaphragm and a coil energizable for causing vibration of the armature, and therefore of said .diaphragm.

4. A pumping arrangement comprising; a pipe of uniform cross section, a how passage smaller than said pipe'and comprising an inlet opening into the pipe at one point'and an outlet opening into the pipe at another point spaced from said onepoint, a nozzle on the axis of the pipe opening away from said one point and being in communication with said outlet, inlet and outlet check valves associated with said inlet and outlet, and pulsating pumping means between said check valves operable for causing intermittent fluid flow through said passage means and out the'nozzle at the outlet end thereof into saidpipe.

.,5. A pumping; arrangement according to claim 4 in which the vibratory pumping means comprises a diaphragm sealed in one wall of the channel so. as .to form a part thereof, an armature connected to the diaphragm on the side opposite the channel, a coil surrounding the armature, and a variable frequency circuit connected with said coil. 7

6. A pumping arrangement according to claim 4 in which the'v'ibratory pumping means comprises a d1aphragm sealed in one wall "of the channel so as to form a part thereof, an armature connected to the diaphragm on the side opposite the channel, a coil surrounding the armature, and a variable frequency circuit connected with said coil, there being means operatively connected with said armature for retarding its vibratory movement in one direction only.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,042,227 Hegel Oct. 22, 1912 Randolph et a1. Sept. 2, 1941 Lagercrantz Jan. 20, 1948 Bast Oct. 30, 1951 Alvarez et a1 Apr. 14, 1953 Conery Oct. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS France Aug. 25, 1908 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1949 France Apr. 27, 1955 

